Making his debut in 2008, he saw his first win in 2011 in the Formula Kart Stars, and finished third in the German Junior Karting Championship, both in KF3. He remained in KF3 with Chiesa Corse Team for the 2012 season, with much success. Ilott put himself on the radar at age 13 by winning the WSK Masters Series, the WSK Final Cup, and finishing as runner-up in the WSK Euro Series and the CIK-FIA World Cup. He was selected as the youngest ever WSK Driver of the Year. In 2013 he contested in KF and KF2 machinery and won the Trofeo delle Industrie and the WSK Final Cup. In 2014, with Zanardi Strakka Racing, he finished fourth in the CIK-FIA World Championship, third in the WSK Champions Cup, and won the WSK Super Masters Series, as well as the CIK-FIA European Championship.
Toyota Racing Series
Callum Ilott made his single-seater debut in the Toyota Racing Series with ETEC Motorsport, using a helmet with the Red Bull livery, but unofficially announced as a member of the Red Bull driver development programme.[4] He took a fourth in the seventh race, and in Taupo was the quickest in the practice sessions. In Manfeild he finished near the podium. He finished 16th in the championship, being fast in qualifying and practices but struggled for race pace.
Ilott stepped up to Formula Three in 2015, racing in the FIA European Formula 3 Championship with Carlin aged 16. Despite being a rookie, his pace placed him as one of the title contenders before the start of the season.[5] He tested F3 machinery and Formula Renault 2.0 to accumulate experience before his Formula 3 debut.[6] In the preseason testing, Ilott made his first impressions, finishing sixth in his first collective test [7] and second in wet conditions on his second day.[8] Ilott achieved one podium at the Nürburgring, finished seventh in the Rookie Championship and twelfth in the overall standings.
On 22 November 2016, Ilott was confirmed to be racing with Prema Powerteam for the 2017 season.[9] He improved to fourth in the driver standings, losing to his teammate Maximilian Günther by 39 points. Ilott won six races and finished another six races on the podium, helping Prema Powerteam secure the Teams' championship title for the fifth consecutive season.
In 2018, after racing a season of GP3, Ilott took part in the Formula 2 post-season test with Trident and Charouz Racing System.[14][15]
He then raced a full season in F2, finishing 11th in the overall standings, securing two podiums in the sprint races in Catalunya and Sochi respectively and his maiden pole in Monza.
Ilott had his first experience in a Formula One car during the 2019 in-season test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, driving the Alfa Romeo Racing C38. He completed 41 laps before his running was cut short after he crashed in Turn 3.[22] Ilott was due to make his Formula One weekend debut during the Friday practice session of the 2020 Eifel Grand Prix, driving for the Ferrari-powered Haas F1 Team, but the session was canceled because of poor weather.[23][24]
After appearing at the post-season test for Alfa Romeo in December 2020, it was announced that Ilott will be taking the role of Scuderia Ferrari test driver for the 2021 season.[25] In April 2021 he was appointed Alfa Romeo's second reserve driver, sharing duties with fellow reserve Robert Kubica.[26] Ilott appeared in FP1 for the team at the Portuguese Grand Prix and the Austrian Grand Prix, running No. 98.[27]
Ilott was recalled by Alfa Romeo to serve as their reserve driver for the 2022 Miami Grand Prix.[28]
IndyCar Series
Juncos Hollinger Racing (2021–2023)
2021
Ilott signed with Indianapolis-based outfit Juncos Hollinger Racing for the last three races of the 2021 IndyCar Series.[29] He made his debut at the Grand Prix of Portland, where he finished 25th, only completing 77 of the 110 laps due to a mechanical failure mid-race.[30][31] In the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey, he crashed his No. 77 car during the warmup session, though he was unharmed by the accident. He went on to finish 22nd, one lap behind the lead pack.[32] In the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, Ilott qualified 18th. However, after completing 47 of the 85 laps, he was forced to retire with a mechanical issue, finishing 26th.[33][34]
On 24 September 2021, Ilott announced that he would remain with Juncos Hollinger Racing and race full-time for the team in the 2022 IndyCar Series.[35][36]
On 28 July 2022, it was announced that Ilott has signed a two-year extension with Juncos Hollinger Racing, keeping him with the team through the 2024 season.[42]
2023
Ilott started the 2023 IndyCar season at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg where he finished fifth, his best finish in the series.[43]
He went on to have a season full of ups and downs, with additional drama off track surrounding his team and teammate. Preparation for the 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500 left Ilott frustrated, commenting "I couldn't even go in a straight line. It was like a ping-pong ball across a corridor. Just bouncing, bouncing, so I'm like, 'That's not good…'" during the first Indy 500 Open Test day in April.[44] Ilott continued to finish towards the bottom in all the practice days in May, before Juncos Hollinger Racing decided to switch the chassis. Ilott, despite only having done 11 laps with the new chassis, qualified 28th, led a few laps, and eventually finished 12th.[45]
He proceeded to have some great overtakes during the season, even when he had to fight his car on track besides fighting other drivers.
He replicated his best finish of 5th at the season finale in Laguna Seca.
On October 26, Ilott and Juncos Hollinger Racing announced that they had mutually agreed to part ways after more than two seasons together.[46]
Ilott made a brief appearance in the 2024 season with Arrow McLaren, driving at the opening race in St. Petersburg, whilst deputising for David Malukas who suffered a wrist injury in a mountain biking accident.[47] Ilott also drove in the 2024 Indianapolis 500 after Malukas was released from the Arrow McLaren team in late-April,[48] finishing in 11th.
Ilott also helped Arrow Mclaren test the hybrid system.
After failing to secure a full-time IndyCar seat for 2024 having been dropped by Juncos Hollinger Racing last minute, Ilott moved to the FIA World Endurance Championship for his campaign, piloting the 12 car for Jota Sport sponsored by Tom Brady, alongside Norman Nato and Will Stevens.[57] The team would score their maiden top-class podium during the first race in Qatar, after battling for podium positions throughout the race and the Peugeot breaking down before the finish, helping the team secure a P2 in the race to start the season on a high.[58] Two rounds later Ilott, together with his teammate Will Stevens, got his first win at Spa-Francorchamps after a mid-race red flag.[59] This also marked the first win in hypercar for Jota. After the win, an unlucky streak struck Ilott. He showed great speeds in the qualifying sessions, always starting off the weekend on a high but continuing with the lowest lows, like crashing out in the last minute of the second practice of Le Mans, leading to the complete change of chassis in mere days, which not only made the team miss Hyperpole but also start on the backfoot. The team however went on to finish 8th, which was their original starting position, strongly contesting the whole race without any big troubles. He then crashed out of the race at the 6 hours of Sao Paolo after coming out of the pits, sending the car back into the garage, leading them to finish last in class. The unfortunate events followed him to the Circuit of the Americas, where the car suffered an electrical issue 2 hours into the race, which they couldn't fix in time.
The Jota squad took the FIA World Cup title after finishing fifth during the 6 hours of Fuji, finishing as the first privateer car. Originally they started the race in p16 after a disastrous qualifying, however the race turned a bit messy which allowed them to fight for podium positions closer to the end.
The next and last race of the season is the 8 hours of Bahrain, which the team contends as the crowned FIA World Cup champions.
Ilott is departing the team at the end of the season.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
